Vitali Klitschko meets Tomasz Adamek for WBC title fight with Pole hoping home advantage can bridge gap in class

Tomasz Adamek, the former world cruiserweight champion, faces Vitali Klitschko
for the giant Ukrainian's WBC heavyweight belt in front of 40,000 adoring
fans at the Stadion Miejski in Poland on Saturday night.

But home advantage is all the Pole may have against one of the standout heavyweights of this era, who took Lennox Lewis to the wire eight years ago.

Adamek, 34, defeated once in 45 contests, is less a strategic boxer than a fighter accustomed to being drawn into toe-to-toe battles, which could be his downfall against Klitschko. The size difference could mirror the disappointingly one-sided contest between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in July.

The elder of the Klitschko brothers may be 40, but his 6 inch height advantage, 5 inch reach advantage and granite chin should stave off what is likely to be an early onslaught from the Polish fighter, who is based in New Jersey. The best chance for the smaller man, who has moved up the divisions from light-heavyweight, is that Klitschko finally 'ages' during this fight.

Against that, is the fact that Klitschko, since returning from a three year lay-off through injury, has easily dealt with a succession of challengers – including Samuel Peter, Shannon Briggs and Odlanier Solis – who barely rattled his cage.

Klitschko is not taking Adamek lightly. "He's not an easy opponent. He has good technique, good conditioning, a big heart, strong character and a strong desire to win."

Adamek has insisted that he can take Klitschko into the late rounds, and it is in the last third of the fight that he will push the WBC champion, who has lost only twice in 44 contests, to Lewis, on a cut, and to Chris Byrd, eleven years ago, due to a shoulder injury.

An unlikely victory for Adamek would send shudders through the division.